DPU attack victims laid to rest in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 24 May 2008, 21:00 GMT]The bodies of 16 civilians including 5 children, three girls and two boys, killed Friday afternoon in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Vanni during the claymore attack by the Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were laid to rest Saturday afternoon 5:20 p.m. in Baarathypuram General Cemetery.

SLA stepped up DPU attacks in LTTE controlled Vanni as the region was observing a national mourning day following the demise of LTTE's Senior Commander Brigadier Balraj, and staged a Claymore attack that targeted a Hiace van returning from Akkaraayan hospital to Ki'linochchi on Mu'rika'ndi - Akkaraayan Road Friday around 2:15 p.m. resulting in the killing of 16 innocent civilians traveling in the van.

Prior to the burial, the caskets containing the remains of the victims were brought from their residences to Bharathy Vidyalayam at 12:30 p.m. and an event to pay homage was held at 1:00 p.m. presided by Mr.Rajendiram , the Principal of the school.

LTTE Political Head, B. Nadesan lit the common flame at the commencement of the event .It was followed by the relatives of the victims garlanding the remains of those killed.

Loud wailing and sobbing by victims filled the air in the precincts of the school.

Tributes were paid at the event by many including the senior member of LTTE .V.Balakumaran, a student from the school Sinthuja, Kilinochchi Zone Deputy Director of Education Sinnarasa, and a teacher from Bharathy Vidyalayam C.Krishnaraja. The Government Agent (GA) of Ki'linochchi N.Vethanayagan initiated the floral tribute.

Mr.Rajendiram, the principal of Bharathy Vidyalayam speaking at the event said “The Sinhala regime has done such a great atrocity for our village and five students from our school have fallen victims of this barbaric act. The armed forces of Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) have executed this despicable act on the instructions of the political and military leaders who should bear the responsibility of this crime, he added.

“We are all devastated by this horrific incident which has claimed the lives of our students, their parents and their relatives. We were shocked beyond disbelief when we visited the hospital mortuary where we saw blood soaked bodies of our students and their parents. We were able to identify only two among the badly mangled bodies of the victims.

“Since the whole village has been affected by this tragic event, we are at a loss as to where to visit to our express our condolence, "the distraught principal said.

Thousands including school children took part during the solemn occasion and at the conclusion of the event, the general public carried the caskets containing the remains of the victims to Bharathypuram General Cemetery where the bodies were laid to rest at 5:20 p.m.

All the victims were residents of Baarathypuram and Malayalapuram, situated 3 km southwest of Ki'linochchi town.